The research was conducted to identify competencies appropriate for adult basic education (ABE) teachers who use the adult performance level (APL) approach, and to determine which are critical for ABE/APL teachers. A jury of APL authorities was impaneled to: (1) validate that all ABE competencies established by Mocker in 1974 were appropriate for APL teachers, and (2) identify APL competencies omitted from the ABE list. Their revised list of competencies was submitted as an inventory to selected, experienced APL educators for ranking on a 0-7 point scale, in order to determine a mean score for each competency, to serve as a basis for the rank order. Competencies in the top quartile were considered critical and are reported in the study as those basic to APL teaching. Competencies were also sorted into four categories: scope and goals of adult education, curriculum, instructional planning, and the learner. Results of the study are presented in tables showing the rank order of competencies in the top quartile and the ranked competencies by categories. Five pages are devoted to a discussion of the results, which are not considered absolute criteria. Appended are a list of jury members, the inventory, and the total list (186) of ranked competencies. (AJ)